Comayagua

Comayagua kōmäyä´wä [key], town (1997 est. pop. 62,000), capital of Comayagua dept., W central Honduras. Founded in 1537, Comayagua was the most important city of colonial Honduras. In the political struggle following independence from Spain (1821), Comayagua, the Conservative stronghold, rivaled Tegucigalpa , seat of the Liberal faction. The cities alternated as capital of the republic, but in 1880 Tegucigalpa became the permanent capital. Today Comayagua is a manufacturing center and serves as the western commercial center of Honduras. It has a fine colonial cathedral and other colonial landmarks.